Footwear Having Removable Cover for Toe Area Thereof

ABSTRACT

An article of footwear configured in the style of a flip-flop or sandal having a cover that removably attaches to the sole and/or straps of the footwear so as to enclose the toe area thereof and to cover or at least substantially cover the toes of the foot. An attaching mechanism is utilized to removably attach the cover to the sole of the footwear such that the cover can be completely removed from the sole. In one embodiment, the attaching mechanism comprises magnets and cooperatively positioned ferromagnetic members. The magnets can be placed in or on a bottom wall of the cover and the ferromagnetic members can be placed in or on the sole or these components can be reversed. Other attaching mechanisms can be utilized or placed elsewhere on the cover or sole. The cover can cover the straps used to hold the sole on the wearer&#39;s foot.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The field of the present invention relates generally to flip-flop shoes, sandals and similarly configured footwear. More specifically, the present invention relates to such footwear that can be easily and quickly modified from one configuration to another depending on the desires of the wearer of the footwear. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to such footwear in which the wearer can convert the footwear between configurations having an open toe area and configurations having the toe area covered.

B. Background

Many different types and styles of footwear are commonly known in the prior art. One common feature of all footwear is that they are configured with a bottom portion or sole assembly that provides a layer between the wearer's foot and the surface on which he or she traverses. In addition to keeping the bottom of the wearer's foot or socks clean, the sole assembly protects the bottom of the wearer's foot from injuries that could result from direct contact with the surface or items, such as rocks, stickers, glass and the like, that are on the surface. To a certain extent, the sole assembly also protects the surface from footprints and the like from the wearer. Attached to the sole assembly are one or more components which, to one degree or another, extend over the top of the wearer's foot to hold the footwear on the foot as the user walks or runs in the footwear. As generally well known, different types and styles of footwear may fully or only partially cover the top of the wearer's foot and utilize different mechanisms for securing the footwear to the wearer's foot. For instance, most dress shoes, athletic shoes, boots and the like substantially or even fully cover the top of the wearer's foot and are secured to the foot by use of either a shoe securing mechanism, such as ties, buckles, velcro, snaps and the like, or by snugly fitting around the wearer's foot.

Two common types of footwear are flip-flops and sandals. Common to flip-flops and sandals is that they are both generally considered casual, due in part to having a generally open upper portion (e.g., that portion of the footwear above the sole), which exposes substantially all or at least most of the upper area of the wearer's foot. Both types of footwear typically comprise a strap assembly having two or more strap members, which may be integrally formed or joined to form a unified strap, that attach to the sole and extend around a portion of the upper area of the wearer's foot to secure the flip-flop or sandal to the foot. In one common configuration for these types of footwear, the assembly that secures the footwear to the foot also include a toe post which extends upwardly from the sole to be received between adjacent toes, usually the big toe and the toe next to the big toe, from which the strap members extend to the sole. When the flip-flops or sandals are placed on a foot, the wearer's toes extend toward the forward end of the footwear into a toe area thereof that is located generally forward of the strap assembly and, as applicable, the toe post and the wearer's heel is positioned toward the rearward end of the footwear in a heel area thereof. The primary difference between the flip-flop and sandal footwear is that sandals typically have one or more back straps or other heel engaging mechanism that extend generally around the back of the wearer's foot and/or around the ankle. Commonly, the back straps comprise an adjusting mechanism that allows the wearer to tighten or loosen the back strap around his or her foot or ankle. As an alternative to back straps, some sandals utilize heel-shaped backs that abut the wearer's heel. Because flip-flops do not have back straps, heel-shaped backs or other heel engaging mechanisms, the heel area and rearward end of the flip-flop are free to move separate from the wearer's heel, particularly as the wearer walks (hence the flip-flop name). Although the lack of a heel engaging mechanism such as back straps result in a looser fitting footwear, this configuration has the benefit of providing increased convenience with regard to the wearer placing his or her foot into the flip-flop and removing the foot from the flip-flop. In fact, the loose fitting and convenience resulting from the lack of back straps, backs or other heel engaging mechanisms are the primary appeal of flip-flops.

As stated above, flip-flops and sandals are generally considered to be casual wear or, depending on the materials utilized for the footwear, even very casual wear. Although these types of footwear are comfortable to wear and provide certain “breathing” benefits for the wearer's feet, they are considered by many people to be too casual for certain formal or even semi-formal activities. Such limitations are particularly true with regard to flip-flops. In addition, some schools, restaurants, offices and other establishments or organizations do not allow a person to wear footwear that expose the toes of the foot. For people who find footwear such as flip-flops and sandals comfortable to wear, in fact perhaps considering these as their default footwear, the requirement to wear more formal footwear that encloses or covers the toes is seen as undesirable. What would be desirable for such persons is to be able to wear their comfortable fitting flip-flops or sandals at times when it is required or desired to have their toes covered, such as at activities and events where more formal footwear is required.

Footwear which converts from one form to another is generally well known in the prior art. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 7,340,852 to Tai describes a shoe having a toe cover which is fabricated from a plurality of ribs that form a flexible panel which allows the toe cover to be moved from an open position that exposes the toes to a closed position that covers the toes. The flexible panel pivots about a pin to extend or retract relative to the forward end of the shoe or the strap assembly when moving between the open and closed positions. At all times the flexible panel remains attached to the sole of the shoe, whether it is in the open or closed position, to either form a lip at the forward end of the shoe or widen the strap assembly. Although such a configuration is beneficial for covering the toes when such a covering is required, the full-time existence of the cover on the shoe is likely to be seen as undesirable by many people who wear flip-flops and sandals for comfort. Another convertible footwear is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 7,823,299 to Brigham, which discloses an interchangeable flip-flop/sandal. The footwear described in this patent changes between a flip-flop configuration and a sandal configuration by appropriate movement of heel and/or forefoot bands. U.S. Pat. No. 7,210,251 to Rolle discloses a shoe with upper portions that removably attach to the sole of the shoe by utilizing a pair of straps joining under the sole and fastening together with hook and loop type fasteners. A base with low rising vertical sides supports the upper portion to allow different variations with regard to the type and configuration of the shoe. U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,294 to Riecken discloses an article of footwear generally configured as a sandal that comprises a variety of adjustably positioned straps which are variably placed and positioned to accommodate different sizes and shapes of feet. U.S. Pat. No. 2,507,120 to Shapiro discloses a shoe with a moveable thonged upper that can vary its position along the sides of the shoe to convert the shoe between a house shoe and a sandal and to allow for and comfortably fit different sizes and shapes of feet. U.S. Pat. No. 2,200,080 to Fein disclose a shoe that can convert from a normal enclosed shoe to a dress or high heel shoe by removing and replacing one or more upper shoe portions with alternatively configured upper shoe portions. While the above-described shoes, as well as other similarly configured footwear may generally fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, they do not describe or disclose footwear that converts between flip-flops or sandals having exposed toes and an article of footwear that has closed toes in a manner that does not change the essential character of the flip-flops or sandals.

What is needed, therefore, is footwear that is configured as flip-flops or sandals with an open toe area that can be easily and quickly converted into footwear with a closed or covered toe area that does not change the normal or typical shape and configuration of such footwear. The improved footwear should appear as and be suitable for being worn as standard flip-flops and sandals when desired by the wearer thereof and be adaptable to being quickly converted to an article of footwear that has the toe area thereof enclosed so as to cover the toes of the wearer when he or she wears the footwear. Preferably, such improved footwear should be configured so as to have no visible alteration with regard to standard flip-flops or sandals, as the case may be, when worn as such, yet be able to allow the wearer thereof to quickly and easily enclose the toe area of the footwear when he or she desires or needs to have the toes of their foot covered. The improved footwear should be adaptable to a wide variety of different styles of flip-flops and sandals, able to be utilized with most materials typically used for such footwear and suitable for a variety of different mechanism to removably attach the toe area cover to the footwear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The improved footwear of the present invention solves the problems and provides the benefits identified above. That is to say, the present invention discloses a new and improved footwear that is configured as standard or typical flip-flops or sandals, when worn as such with open toe areas, that allows the wearer thereof to easily and quickly enclose the toe area of the footwear so as to cover his or her toes. As such, the footwear of the present invention allows the wearer to have the comfort and feel of flip-flops or sandals yet be able to enclose the toe area when desired or necessary to cover the toes. As such, the wearer of the footwear of the present invention can wear his or her flip-flops or sandals to activities and occasions when such footwear may otherwise be inappropriate as too casual or into locations where exposed toes are not allowed. In a preferred configuration of the footwear of the present invention, the footwear and the cover for the toe area thereof are configured so the cover is completely removable. As such, the footwear will appear as normal or typical flip-flops or sandals when the cover is not being utilized and will appear as footwear having an enclosed toe area when the cover is utilized. The removable cover for the toe area of the footwear can be made out of a wide variety of different types of materials and in a wide variety of different configurations. A variety of different types of attaching mechanisms can be utilized to removably attach the toe area cover to the sole of the footwear. The footwear of the present invention is adaptable to a wide variety of different styles of flip-flops and sandals and can be utilized with most materials typically used for such footwear.

In one general aspect of the present invention, the improved footwear comprises a sole, a foot securing assembly, a cover configured to cover a portion of the sole and the wearer's toes and an attaching mechanism configured to removably attach the cover to the sole. The soles has an upwardly disposed top surface, a downwardly disposed bottom surface, a forward end and a rearward end. The top surface is configured to receive the wearer's foot with a toe section of the foot being disposed toward the forward end of the sole and a heel section of the foot disposed toward the rearward end of the sole. The foot securing assembly is configured to at least generally secure the footwear to the wearer's foot. In one embodiment, the foot securing assembly comprising a toe post and a strap assembly connected to or integral with the toe post. The toe post extends upward from the top surface of the sole to be received between adjacent toes of the wearer's foot. The strap assembly has one or more strap members interconnecting the toe post and the sole so as to define a toe area of the footwear generally forward of the toe post and a foot receiving area of the footwear generally rearward of the toe post. The cover is generally shaped and configured to at least substantially be disposed over the toe area of the footwear and the toes of the foot when placed on the sole. In one embodiment, the cover has a bottom wall that is configured to be placed in abutting relation with the top surface of the sole. The attaching mechanism interconnects the cover and the sole in a manner that allows the cover to be removably attached to the sole. In a preferred embodiment, the attaching mechanism comprises magnets and one or more ferromagnetic members, with the magnets and the ferromagnetic members being cooperatively positioned on or in the footwear to allow the magnets to be magnetically attracted to the ferromagnetic members when the cover is placed on the sole and, thereby, secure the cover to the sole. The attaching mechanism is configured to allow the cover to be completely removed from the footwear when the cover is not needed or desired. Once removed, the toe area and the toes of the wearer are fully exposed and the cover does not contact and is not otherwise associated with the sole or the strap assembly of footwear. In one embodiment, the magnets are associated with the cover and the ferromagnetic members are associated with at least one of the sole and the foot securing assembly. In another embodiment, the ferromagnetic members are associated with the cover and the magnets are associated with at least one of the sole and the foot securing assembly. In a preferred configuration, the cover extends sufficiently rearward when placed on the sole to cover or at least to substantially cover the straps of the footwear.

Accordingly, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved article of footwear that provides the advantages discussed above and which overcomes the disadvantages and limitations associated with presently available footwear.

More specifically, it is an important aspect of the present invention to provide improved footwear that is configured as standard flip-flops or sandals, and which are worn as such, but which can be easily and quickly converted to footwear having the toe area thereof enclosed when the wearer thereof desires or needs to have his or her toes covered.

It is also an important aspect of the present invention to provide an improved article of footwear that allows the wearer thereof to easily and quickly cover the toe area of the footwear by utilizing a removable cover which is shaped and configured to be at least substantially disposed over the entire toe area so as to cover the wearer's toes.

It is also an important aspect of the present invention to provide an improved article of footwear that allows the wearer thereof to quickly and easily cover or uncover the toe area of the footwear which can be made out of wide variety of different materials and in a wide variety of different configurations.

It is also an important aspect of the present invention to provide an improved article of footwear that is adaptable to utilizing a variety of different types of attaching mechanisms to removably attach a cover that is shaped and configured to enclose the toe area of the footwear so as to cover or uncover the wearer's toes when deemed desirable or necessary.

The above and other objectives and aspects of the present invention will be explained in greater detail by reference to the attached figures and the description of the preferred embodiment which follows. As set forth herein, the present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, mode of operation and combination of processes presently described and understood by the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiments and the best modes presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a prior art article of footwear that is configured as a typical flip-flop shown with the wearer's foot in the flip-flop;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the article of footwear and foot of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the flip-flop of FIG. 1 shown without the foot;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of an article of footwear configured according to one embodiment of the present invention with the cover attached to the sole of the footwear;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the article of footwear of FIG. 4 shown with the wearer's foot inside the footwear;

FIG. 6 is an exploded top perspective view of the article of footwear of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the article of footwear of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a back view of the article of footwear of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the cover of FIG. 4 show separately from the remaining components of the footwear;

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the cover of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the footwear of the present invention showing the use of a back strap therewith to provide a sandal type of footwear;

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the footwear of the present invention having a cover that is made out of a relatively soft, flexible material shown on the sole of the footwear;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the cover of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an alternative configuration for footwear of the present invention showing use of a securing assembly comprising a single strap across the sole of the footwear;

FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the footwear of the present invention wherein the cover has a lip section which extends along the sides of the sole; and

FIG. 16 is an exploded top perspective view of an embodiment of the footwear of the present invention, with the cover shown upside down, wherein the magnets are placed in the sole and the ferromagnetic members are placed in the cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures where like elements have been given like numerical designations to facilitate the reader's understanding of the present invention, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are set forth below. The enclosed text and drawings are merely illustrative of preferred embodiments and only represent several possible ways of configuring the present invention. Although specific components, materials, configurations and uses are illustrated, it should be understood that a number of variations to the components and to the configuration of those components described herein and in the accompanying figures can be made without changing the scope and function of the invention set forth herein. For instance, although the figures and description provided herein are primarily directed to one configuration of a flip-flop and/or sandal and show only a few exemplary covers, persons skilled in the art will readily understand that this is merely for purposes of simplifying the present disclosure and that the present invention is not so limited. Such persons will readily appreciate that the article of footwear of the present invention can be made in a variety of different configurations and out of a variety of different materials.

An article of footwear that is configured pursuant to one of the embodiments of the present invention is shown generally as 10 in FIGS. 4 through 8. As shown in these figures and explained in more detail below, the footwear 10 of the present invention is an improvement over the prior art flip-flop or sandal footwear, an example of which is shown as 12 in FIGS. 1 through 3. As well known by those skilled in the art, a standard or typical prior art flip-flop type of footwear 12 comprises a bottom portion or sole 14 and a generally Y-shaped foot securing assembly 16 that is generally sized and configured to secure the footwear 12 on the wearer's foot 18, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The sole 14 of the footwear 12 has an upwardly disposed top surface 20 that is configured to abuttingly receive the bottom of the wearer's foot 18 and a downwardly disposed bottom surface 22 that is configured to contact a supporting surface when the wearer of footwear 12 is walking, running or otherwise traversing the supporting surface. The sole 14 of the footwear 12 has a front or forward end 24 and a back or rearward end 26. When the footwear 12 is worn by the wearer, the toe section 28 of the foot 18 is positioned near the forward end 24 of the sole 14 and the heel section 30 of the foot 18 is positioned near the rearward end 28 of the sole 14, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As stated above, footwear 12 is secured, albeit loosely depending on the configuration of the footwear 12, to the foot 18 of the wearer by foot securing assembly 16. In the embodiment of the prior art footwear 12 shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the foot securing assembly 16 comprises a strap assembly 32 having a first strap member 34 and a second strap member 36 that are each attached to the sole 14 of the footwear 12 to define a toe area 38 generally forward of the strap assembly 32 that receives and supports the toe section 28 of the foot 18 and a foot receiving area 40 located generally rearward of the strap assembly 32 for receiving and supporting the heel section 30 and the main body of the foot 18. Depending on the configuration of the footwear 12, the strap members 34/36 of strap assembly 32 may be separate members, they may be joined together or integrally formed. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, strap members 34/36 extend generally rearward and are fixedly attached to the top surface 20 of the sole 14. In other embodiments, the strap members 34/36 may form a single strap that substantially traverses across the sole 14 from one side of the footwear 12 to the other under which the foot 18 of the wearer is received. In either configuration, strap members 34/36 abut the top area of the wearer's foot 18 when he or she is wearing the footwear 12. As will be readily appreciated by persons familiar with such footwear 12, the size and configuration of the strap members 34/36 can vary substantially depending on the design and configuration of the footwear 12.

Although not required for footwear 12, many styles of flip-flops and sandals have a securing assembly 16 that comprises a toe post 42 extending generally upwardly from the top surface 20 of the sole 14 of the footwear, as shown with regard to the embodiment of the footwear 12 in FIGS. 1 through 3. In such an embodiment, the toe post 42 is sized and configured to be received between a pair of adjacent toes of the toe section 28 of the foot 18, typically between the first or big toe 44 and the adjacent second toe 46 as best shown in FIG. 1, and connect to the strap members 34/36 so as to further define the toe area 38 as being forward of the toe post 42. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the toe post 42 can connect to, attach to or be integral with the sole 14 of the footwear 12. In one common configuration for footwear 12, the toe post 42 extends through the body of sole 14 and the lower end thereof is configured so as to secured against the bottom surface 22 thereof. The upper end of the toe post 42 typically connects to or is integral with the strap assembly 32, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, such that strap members 34/36 extend generally rearwardly from the toe post 42 to attach to sole 14 and further define the foot receiving area 40.

The footwear 12 shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 is configured as a typical flip-flop type of footwear. As set forth below, the footwear 10 of the present invention is equally applicable to footwear that is configured as a sandal. As can be readily appreciated by those who are familiar with flip-flops and sandals, the primary difference between such footwear is the existence of one or more back straps that are positioned so as to extend around the heel section 30 of the foot 18 and/or around the ankle of the wearer. Without the back straps, the sole 14 of the flip-flop type of footwear will separate vertically from the heel section 30 of the foot 18 as the wearer of the footwear 12 walks or runs across a support surface, such as grass, sand, pavement, sidewalk and the like. Use of one or more back straps across the heel section 30 or ankle of the wearer better secures the sole 14 of the footwear 12 to the bottom of the foot 18. Depending on the tightness of the back strap(s), the top surface 20 of the sole 14 may be securely held against the bottom of the foot or the sole 14 may be allowed to separate some (but generally not as much as for flip-flops). Typically, but not always, the back strap has one or more size adjusting mechanisms, such as a buckle, Velcro®, snaps, buttons, ties or the like, that allow the wearer of the footwear to adjust the back strap to better fit his or her foot 18 and more or less tightly secure the sole 14 against the bottom surface of the foot 18.

One embodiment of footwear 10 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 4 through 8. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the footwear 10 incorporates all of the features described above with regard to the prior art footwear 12 and, as such, the above description is hereby incorporated herein with regard to footwear 10 of the present invention. The various numeral descriptions above are applicable to the footwear 10, whether footwear 10 is configured as flip-flops or sandals. As set forth in the Background, a common problem with footwear 10 is that the toe section 28 of the wearer's foot 18 is at least substantially exposed when wearing the flip-flop or sandal footwear 10, which is often inappropriate or not allowed at certain functions or in certain types of establishments. If the wearer shows up at such functions or establishments in flip-flops or sandals, he or she is either not allowed to participate, not allowed in or feels uncomfortable due to wearing inappropriate footwear. Although he or she could go home or to a store to get different footwear, assuming he or she does not have an extra pair of footwear readily available, often the ability to change footwear is not always convenient or even applicable due to time and/or distance issues. In addition to the above, many people would rather wear their flip-flops or sandals due to the comfort of such footwear and the foot “breathing” benefits that derive from such footwear. The footwear 10 of the present invention solves this problem by allowing the wearer of footwear 10 to continue to wear his or her flip-flops or sandals while easily and quickly changing the footwear 10 from an open toe area 38 configuration to a configuration where the toe area 38 is at least substantially enclosed, thereby at least substantially covering the toe section 28 of the foot 18. Such conversion will allow the wearer to continue to wear the flip-flops or sandals while satisfying the requirement that the toe section 28 be covered.

The article of footwear 10 of the present invention further comprises a cover 50 and an attaching mechanism 52 for removably attaching the cover 50 to the sole 14 of footwear 10. As set forth in more detail below and shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cover 50 is sized and configured to at least substantially cover the entire toe area 38 of the footwear 10 and, in the preferred configuration, the entire securing assembly 16 thereof, including the strap members 34/36. The cover 50 has a forward or first end 54 and a rearward or second end 56 with a sidewall 58 that interconnects a top wall 60 and one or more bottom walls (which are collectively referred to as bottom walls 62), as best shown in FIGS. 4-6 and 9. The sidewall 58 and top wall 60 of the cover 50 define a toe-receiving cavity 64 that is sized and configured to receive the toe section 28 and forward portion of the wearer's foot 18 when he or she is wearing the cover 50 on footwear 10 to cover or at least substantially cover his or her toe section 28, as best shown in FIGS. 5 and 10. In a preferred embodiment, the lower surface (not shown) of the top wall 60 of cover 50 is placed in abutting relation with the top surface 66, shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, of a portion of the strap assembly 32 and the sidewall 58 of cover 50 has a pair of rearwardly disposed cover sections, shown as first cover section 68 and second cover section 70, that extend rearward to cover or at least substantially cover the strap members 34/36, respectfully, so the strap members 34/36 also do not show, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The cover 50 of footwear 10 can be manufactured out of a wide variety of different materials and in a wide variety of different configurations to appeal to persons with different styles and/or for use at different occasions. For instance, the cover 50 can be made out of a relatively stiff material, such as leather, plastic, foam and the like (as shown in FIGS. 4 through 10) or out of a relatively soft and or plushy material such as cloth, fabric or the like (as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13). As such, the toe receiving cavity 64 can be fixedly formed, if a sufficiently stiff material is utilized for cover 50, or the toe receiving cavity 64 can be configured to collapse when not in use on the sole 14 and securing assembly 16 of footwear 10. The latter configuration will have some benefit for persons who may desire to carry a collapsed cover 50, such as shown in FIG. 13, in a purse, bag or otherwise on their person for use if covering the toe section 28 of the foot 18 becomes necessary or desirable. The sidewall 58, top wall 60 and bottom wall 62 can be integrally formed and made out of the same material or these components can be made out of one or more different materials with the walls 58/60/62 being joined together using a mechanism that is appropriate for the materials being utilized. If desired, the interior surface of the sidewall 58, top wall 60 and bottom wall 62 can be lined with material for comfort and/or warmth. In addition, the cover 50 can be covered with a different material or with one or more accessory items, such as beads, jewels, rhinestones, ribbons and the like to improve the appearance thereof and/or to make the cover more suitable and/or attractive for certain persons. Additionally, the outer surface of the cover 50 can include one or more team insignia, corporate logos, cartoon characters, political statements or other types of messages that may appeal to the person who will wear the footwear 10.

As stated above, the footwear 10 of the present invention also has an attaching mechanism 52 that is configured to allow the wearer of footwear 10 to easily and quickly, but securely, attach the cover 50 to the sole 14 of the footwear 10. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, a wide variety of different attaching mechanisms 52 can be utilized to removably secure the cover 50 to sole 14. In a preferred embodiment, attaching mechanism 52 comprises one or more magnets 72 and one or more ferromagnetic members 74. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the magnets 72 and ferromagnetic members 74 are placed in cooperative but opposing relation so that the magnetic force of the magnets 72 will be attracted to the ferromagnetic members 74. In one embodiment, one or more magnets 72 are positioned in the cover 50, preferably along the bottom wall 62 thereof, and an equal number of ferromagnetic members 74 are cooperatively positioned in the sole 14 such that the cover 50 will magnetically attach to the sole 14 to enclose the toe area 38 and cover the toe section 28 of the foot 18. In this embodiment, the magnets 72 can be placed on the lower surface of the bottom wall 62 and the ferromagnetic members 74 can be placed in or on the sole 14 toward the forward end 24 thereof. In a preferred configuration, the magnets 72 are placed in the sole 14 below the top surface 20 thereof so the wearer will not feel the ferromagnetic members 74 when he or she is wearing the footwear 10 without the cover 50. If desired, the upper surface of the bottom wall 62 of the cover 50 can be covered with cushioning material so the foot 18 of the wearer of footwear 10 will not feel either the magnets 72 or the ferromagnetic members 74.

In an alternative configuration, shown in FIG. 16, the magnets 72 can be placed on or in the sole 14 and the ferromagnetic members 74 can be cooperatively positioned in the cover 50, typically along the bottom wall 62 thereof, in reverse of the configuration described above. Although this configuration can also achieve the primary objective of the present invention, namely a removable cover 50 that encloses the toe area 38 and covers the toe section 28 of the foot 18, it is not believed to be as desirable as the configuration described above. Placement of the magnets 72 in the sole 14 of the footwear 10 is likely to result in the magnets 72 attracting unwanted metal trash and other objects when the wearer is wearing the footwear 10 without the cover 50 (e.g., when being worn as a typical flip-flop or sandal). Placement of the ferromagnetic members 74 in the sole 14 will generally avoid this problem.

As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, a variety of different types of magnets 72, including rare earth magnets or the like, and ferromagnetic members 74 can be utilized with footwear 10 to accomplish the objectives of the present invention. Although the magnets 72 can be selected with sufficient magnetic strength such that they tightly attach the cover 50 to the top surface 20 of the sole section 14, this is likely to not be necessary. With the cover 50 placed on the top surface 20 of the sole section 14 and the toe section 28 of the wearer's foot 18 received in the toe receiving cavity 64, the positioning of the bottom wall 62 is preferably selected such that the wearer's toe section 28 will, by virtue of being positioned on the bottom wall 62, assist the magnets 72 (or other attaching mechanism 52) with holding the cover 50 on the sole section 14. In certain configurations, the magnetic attraction between the magnets 72 and ferromagnetic members 74 may only need to be sufficient to generally hold the cover 50 on the sole 14 of footwear 10. Ferromagnetic members 74 can be made out of a variety of materials and in a variety of different shapes which are selected so as to be sufficiently magnetically engaged by the magnets 72 to attach the cover 50 to the sole 14. The magnets 72 and ferromagnetic members 74 can both be shaped the same, such as rectangular, or be shaped differently, such as magnets 72 being circular and the ferromagnetic members 74 being rectangular or square.

Although the use of magnets 72 and ferromagnetic members 74 as described above are believed to provide a convenient and secure attaching mechanism 52 for use with footwear 10, the invention is not so limited. If desired, the attaching mechanism 52 can comprise strips of hook and loop material (such as Velcro® or the like), snaps, latch-type members or the like, with one-half of the attaching mechanisms 52 being associated with the cover 50 and the other half being associated with the sole 14, as described above with regard to the magnets 72 and ferromagnetic members 74. The component of the attaching mechanism 52 that is associate with the sole 14 of footwear 10, whether the magnets 72, ferromagnetic members 74 or other devices, should be either embedded in the sole 14 below the top surface 20 thereof or configured to be smoothly positioned on the top surface 20 thereof so as to not be uncomfortable to the bottom of the wearer's foot 18. In fact, one of the primary benefits of utilizing the magnetic attaching mechanism 52 described above, in addition to its ease of use, is that the component thereof associated with the sole 14 (which is the ferromagnetic members 74 in a preferred configuration) can be placed either below the top surface 20 or smoothly along top surface 20 of the sole 14 of footwear 10.

A embodiment of the footwear 10 of the present invention where the footwear 10 is configured as a sandal is shown in FIG. 11. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, a sandal configuration typically comprises one or more back straps 76 that extend around the heel section 30 of the foot 18 and/or around the wearer's ankle. In one configuration, the back strap(s) 76 can be attached to the strap assembly 32, such as to the two strap members 34/36, and/or attached to the sole 14 of footwear 10. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, footwear 10 comprises a single back strap 76 that is attached to the cover 50, generally at or near the rearward or second end 56 thereof, and extends rearward to go around the wearer's heel section 30 (as shown). This embodiment also includes a size adjusting mechanism 78, such as the buckle that is shown in FIG. 11, that allows the wearer to tighten or loosen the back strap 76 around the heel section 30 to tighten or loosen the fit of footwear 10 on foot 18. As well known in the art, a variety of other adjusting mechanism 78, such as snaps, ties, Velcro® and the like, can be used to adjust the fit of the back strap 76.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show the use of a cover 50 that is made out of a soft, flexible material such as cloth or other fabric to provide a footwear 10 having a particular look for use by the wearer thereof. One advantage of a cover 50 made out of such a material is that the cover 50 can be collapsed, as shown in FIG. 13, so that it can be more easily carried by the wearer when it is not being used on the sole 14 to cover the toe section 28 of the wearer's foot 18. For instance, cover 50 can be collapsed so it can be carried in a purse, pocket or elsewhere by the wearer for use when needed or otherwise desired. When the wearer of footwear 10 desires to cover his or her toe section 28, the cover 50 can be expanded, positioned at the toe area 38 to engage the attaching mechanism 52 and then positioned over the securing assembly 16, as shown in FIG. 12, so the footwear 10 may be worn with the toe section 28 of the foot 18 covered or at least substantially covered. Expanding the cover 50 creates the toe receiving cavity 64 in which the toe section 38 of the foot 18 is placed.

Another embodiment of the footwear 10 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 14. In this embodiment, the securing assembly 16 comprises a single strap member 80 that extends across the sole 14 from one side to the other thereof to provide what is commonly referred to as a sport sandal. The attaching mechanism 52 utilized therewith includes the magnets 72 and the ferromagnetic members 74 as described above. Additionally, the attaching mechanism 52 of this embodiment also includes a secondary magnet 82 in or otherwise associated with the top wall 60 of the cover 50 and a cooperatively positioned ferromagnetic member 84 in or otherwise associated with the strap member 80 to be magnetically engaged by the magnet 82. As with the above-described embodiments, the placement of the magnet 82 and ferromagnetic member 84 can be swapped, particularly since in this configuration the bottom of the wearer's foot 18 will not be in contact with the magnet 82 or ferromagnetic member 84 in the strap member 80. This configuration can also be utilized with the strap assembly 32 described above.

The embodiment of the footwear 10 of the present invention shown in FIG. 15 utilizes a cover 50 that comprise a lip section 86 that extends down from the lower edge of the cover 50 such that the lip section 86 is positioned over the sides 88 of the sole 14 of the footwear 10. In addition to covering the sides 88 of the sole 14, which could provide an improved or more formal look to the footwear 10, the lip section 86 of the cover 50 can be utilized to help secure the cover 50 to the sole 14. If desired, one or more magnets 72 can be placed in or on lip section 86 to magnetically engage the ferromagnetic members 74 embedded in the sole 14. These magnets 72 can be used in conjunction with or instead of placing magnets 72 in the bottom wall 62 of the cover 50. In fact, if the bottom wall 62 is not necessary to help secure the cover 50 to the sole 14, whether using the magnets 72 or other components of the attaching mechanism 52 or with assistance from the toe section 28 of the wearer's foot 18, then the bottom wall 62 can be eliminated from cover 50.

In use, a person will wear the footwear 10 without the cover 50 when he or she desires to use the footwear 10 as a flip-flop or sandal, thereby exposing his or her toe section 28 of their foot 18. However, when desired or necessary to cover the toe section 28, the wearer of footwear 10 merely has to place the cover 50 onto the sole 14 of the footwear 10. Placement of the cover 50 on the sole 14 encloses the toe area 38 thereof and covers toe section 28 of the wearer's foot 19. Depending on the configuration of cover 50, the toe area 38 of the footwear 10 and the toe section 28 of the wearer's foot 18 will be completely or at least substantially covered by the cover 50. In the embodiment where the attaching mechanism 52 utilized to attach the cover 50 to the sole 14 comprises one or more magnets 72 and one or more cooperatively positioned ferromagnetic members 74, the wearer only has to place the cover 50 in position on the sole 14 so the magnetic force of the magnets 72 will engage the ferromagnetic members 74. When the cover 50 is no longer needed or desired to cover the toe section 28, the wearer of footwear 10 disengages the attaching mechanism 52 to remove cover 50 from sole 14 to return footwear 10 to its flip-flop or sandal configuration. With regard to the use of magnets 72 and ferromagnetic members 74, the wearer merely has to pull the cover 50 away from the sole 14. The sole 14 and securing assembly 16 of footwear 10 can be made out of the materials which are currently utilized for flip-flops and/or sandals. Cover 50 can be made out of these same materials or, if desired, different materials.

While there are shown and described herein one or more specific forms of the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited, but is susceptible to various modifications and rearrangements in design and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, it should be noted that the present invention is subject to modification with regard to any dimensional relationships set forth herein and modifications in assembly, materials, size, shape, and use. For instance, there are numerous components described herein that can be replaced with equivalent functioning components to accomplish the objectives of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An article of footwear, comprising: a sole having an upwardly disposed top surface, a downwardly disposed bottom surface, a forward end and a rearward end, said top surface configured to receive a foot thereon with a toe section of the foot disposed toward said forward end of said sole and a heel section of the foot disposed toward said rearward end of said sole; a foot securing assembly configured to secure said footwear to the foot, said foot securing assembly comprising a strap assembly connected to said sole so as to define a toe area of said footwear generally forward of said strap assembly; a cover shaped and configured to be at least substantially disposed over said toe area when said cover is placed on said sole; and attaching means interconnecting said cover and said sole for removably attaching said cover to said sole, said attaching means selected and configured to allow said cover to be completely removed from said sole so as to fully expose said toe area and to not contact or otherwise be associated with said strap assembly when removed from said sole.
 2. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said attaching means comprises one or more magnets and one or more ferromagnetic members, said magnets and said ferromagnetic members cooperatively positioned on or in said footwear to allow at least one of said magnets to be magnetically attracted to at least one of said ferromagnetic members when said cover is placed on said sole so as to secure said cover to said sole.
 3. The footwear of claim 2, wherein said magnets are associated with said cover and said ferromagnetic members are associated with at least one of said sole and said foot securing assembly.
 4. The footwear of claim 3, wherein at least one of said ferromagnetic members is disposed in said sole below said top surface thereof.
 5. The footwear of claim 3, wherein at least one of said ferromagnetic members is on said top surface of said sole.
 6. The footwear of claim 2, wherein said magnets are disposed in or attached to a bottom wall of said cover, said bottom wall of said cover configured to be placed in abutting relation with said top surface of said sole.
 7. The footwear of claim 2, wherein said ferromagnetic members are associated with said cover and said magnets are associated with at least one of said sole and said foot securing assembly.
 8. The footwear of claim 7, wherein at least one of said magnets is disposed in said sole below said top surface thereof.
 9. The footwear of claim 7, wherein at least one of said magnets is on said top surface of said sole.
 10. The footwear of claim 7, wherein said ferromagnetic members are disposed in or attached to a bottom wall of said cover, said bottom wall of said cover configured to be placed in abutting relation with said top surface of said sole.
 11. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said foot securing assembly further comprises a toe post extending upward from said top surface of said sole so as to be received between adjacent toes of the foot, said strap assembly interconnecting said toe post and said sole to further define said toe area as being generally forward of said toe post.
 12. The footwear of claim 11, wherein said strap assembly has a first strap member and a second strap member, each of said first strap member and said second strap member extending generally rearward of said toe post, said cover shaped and configured to extend rearwardly of said toe post so as to at least partially cover an upper surface of said strap assembly.
 13. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said cover is shaped and configured to at least partially cover an upper surface of said strap assembly.
 14. The footwear of claim 13, wherein said cover substantially covers said upper surface of said strap assembly.
 15. The footwear of claim 1 further comprising a back strap attached to or integral with said strap assembly, said back strap sized and configured to extend rearwardly around the heel section of the foot.
 16. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said sole has sides and said cover comprises a lip section configured to extend downwardly over said sides of said sole.
 17. An article of footwear, comprising: a sole having an upwardly disposed top surface, a downwardly disposed bottom surface, a forward end and a rearward end, said top surface configured to receive a foot thereon with a toe section of the foot disposed toward said forward end of said sole and a heel section of the foot disposed toward said rearward end of said sole; a foot securing assembly configured to secure said footwear to the foot, said foot securing assembly comprising a toe post and a strap assembly connected to or integral with said toe post, said toe post extending upward from said top surface of said sole to be received between adjacent toes of the foot, said strap assembly having one or more strap members interconnecting said toe post and said sole so as to define a toe area of said footwear generally forward of said toe post and a foot receiving area of said footwear generally rearward of said toe post; a cover shaped and configured to at least substantially be disposed over said toe area of said footwear and the toes of the foot, said cover having a bottom wall configured to be placed in abutting relation with said top surface of said sole; and attaching means interconnecting said cover and said sole for removably attaching said cover to said sole, said attaching means comprising one or more magnets and one or more ferromagnetic members, said magnets and said ferromagnetic members cooperatively positioned on or in said footwear to allow at least one of said magnets to be magnetically attracted to at least one of said ferromagnetic members when said cover is placed on said sole so as to secure said cover to said sole, said attaching means selected and configured to allow said cover to be completely removed from said footwear so as to fully expose said toe area and to not contact or otherwise be associated with said strap assembly of footwear.
 18. The footwear of claim 17, wherein said magnets are associated with said cover and said ferromagnetic members are associated with at least one of said sole and said foot securing assembly.
 19. The footwear of claim 17, wherein said ferromagnetic members are associated with said cover and said magnets are associated with at least one of said sole and said foot securing assembly.
 20. An article of footwear, comprising: a sole having an upwardly disposed top surface, a downwardly disposed bottom surface, a forward end and a rearward end, said top surface configured to receive a foot thereon with a toe section of the foot disposed toward said forward end of said sole and a heel section of the foot disposed toward said rearward end of said sole; a foot securing assembly configured to secure said footwear to the foot, said foot securing assembly comprising a strap assembly connected to said sole so as to define a toe area of said footwear generally forward of said strap assembly; a cover shaped and configured to be at least substantially disposed over said toe area when said cover is placed on said sole, said cover shaped and configured to at least partially cover an upper surface of said strap assembly; and attaching means interconnecting said cover and said sole for removably attaching said cover to said sole, said attaching means having one or more magnets and one or more ferromagnetic members, said magnets and said ferromagnetic members cooperatively positioned on or in said footwear to allow at least one of said magnets to be magnetically attracted to at least one of said ferromagnetic members when said cover is placed on said sole so as to secure said cover to said sole, said attaching means selected and configured to allow said cover to be completely removed from said sole so as to fully expose said toe area and to not contact or otherwise be associated with said strap assembly when removed from said sole. 